3rd March , 2026
Fabric, wood, toystuffing, beads and ribbon
55 x 25cm

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3rd March is inspired by Hinamatsuri, also known as Girls’ Day, a traditional annual festival in Japan that celebrates the health, happiness, and prosperity of young girls. Households with daughters display sets of ornamental dolls, typically consisting of a female and a male figure that represent a Heian-period wedding couple.

Hinamatsuri was previously known as Momo no Sekku (Peach Festival), as peach trees traditionally begin to blossom around the 3rd of March in the lunar calendar.

In this work, the doll Obina (the male doll) is depicted alone at the center of the canvas, surrounded by a composition of various fabrics. These dolls are traditionally displayed as a pair and are rarely shown separately; however, in this piece Obina stands by himself.

By isolating Obina from the traditional pair, the work reconsiders the symbolic balance of the Hinamatsuri display. The absence of the female counterpart introduces a sense of interruption within the ritual structure, inviting reflection on tradition, and the fragility of cultural customs when removed from their original context.